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Parodia talaensis (microsperma)
Field number: L 559
Locality: Tala, Salta / Tucuman, Argentina 1600-1800m
Date: 25/10/1970
Parodia sanguiniflora (microsperma) |
NOTE: The
following description of this species is based on
Parodia microsperma (Weber) Spegazzini 1923
sensu stricto. But if we consider the numerous synonyms,
form and variety of this very variable
taxon, all the value of size, colour, flower and spines
characteristic can change considerably.
Description: Usually solitary, but can forms small
clusters.
Stem:
Globose or
cylindrical,
pale green up to 6-7(-9) cm in diameter and 10 cm
tall (or more)
Ribs: 13-21 spiraling with conical
tubercles 4-5 mm in diameter 3 mm long.
Areoles: 1,5 mm in diameter with white-yellowish tomentum that
fade away as they age.
Radial spines: 11-13 thin white, up to 7 mm long.
Radial spines: 4, of which the upper three are straight white
with a reddish tip, while the lower one is more long and strong, hooked
totally reddish up to 30mm long.
Flowers: Infundibuliform on the plant apex 30mm long, 40 mm in
diameter. External tepals spatulate or lanceolate, denticulate
yellowish-orange whit a vermilion midline. The throat is bright red, the
filaments bear cream-yellowish anthers. Stile white-yellowish bearing a
12 lobed stigma.
Fruit: Ovoidal 6x5 mm, with basal dehiscence.
Seeds: Very small 0,4mm long, brown smooth
and shining.
Cultivation: Needs regular water in
summer. Keep rather dry in winter, tends to lose its roots in winter.
Can tolerate light frost (-1C°)
Propagation:
By Seeds.
The seed of this plant are extremely small and must be sown on the
surface of the germination substrate (not buried!!) But the seedlings
after germination are so minuscule and delicate that it is quite
problematic to keep them alive. So for this species it is usually used
the
baggy germination technique (in a sterilized pot hermetically closed
in a plastic sachet)
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